Barbershop

Smooth harmonies from four barbershop choruses filled the sanctuary at Emmanuel United Methodist Church on Sunday as the church continued its tradition of providing a free Christmas concert. The groups performed for more than an hour at the church at 802 Summit Ave., and near the end of the 3 p.m. show, the audience of about 100 people was invited to join in singing favorite holiday tunes. Bill Divelbiss, member of the Mason-Dixon Chorus, one of the groups that performed, said the concert has been held for about six years.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Alex Ivan Litoshik describes downtown as "the face" of a community. It is perhaps appropriate, then, that Litoshik is providing services to beautify the faces of the men living and working in the community. Litoshik recently opened a barber shop at 110 W. Main St., providing cuts, shaves, facials, facial massages and steam towel treatments. He's trying to hearken back to an era when barbershops were a town staple, where men gathered for socializing and exceptional service.

After a long career as a barber, Carol Harvey is happy to see her business continue in the hands of her daughter. Harvey, who comes from a long line of barbers (see the old pictures in the shop of her uncles and grandfather), started her career in 1973, when she attended the Bladensburg (Md.) Barber School. She settled in Williamsport, where she started her own barbershop, Williamsport Barber Shop, at 28 N. Conococheague St. Harvey said she really enjoys her customers, who have become great friends and acquaintances through the business and town.

julieg@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - A fire Saturday morning has at least temporarily closed a barbershop on the edge of downtown Hagerstown, said Battalion Chief Kyd Dieterich of the Hagerstown Fire Department. Hagerstown Police Department Sgt. Tim Wolford said Saturday night that police were investigating a reported pistol-whipping and possible shots fired at the barbershop owner's residence in the 900 block of West Washington Street at 10:02 p.m. Friday. Wolford said that investigation was ongoing and he could not reveal further details as of 9 p.m. Saturday.

andrear@herald-mail.com Lisa Carpegna's old-fashioned business philosophy is reflected in a sign at her Hagerstown shop: "Shave and a Haircut 2 Bits. " Although customers at her Kutter's Barber Shop will pay a little more than two bits for a cut, they'll likely feel as if they stepped back in time when they walk past the striped barber pole and into the cozy shop that's attached to the Carpegnas' home next to City Park. Two barber's chairs loom large upon a checkerboard floor in front of a mirrored wall.

HAGERSTOWN -- Staring at the wrong end of an 8-inch blade, Leonard W. Cooper fought off an intruder Wednesday by picking him up and throwing him through a glass door. Cooper, who has worked at Just Us Hair Styles, a barbershop at 206 N. Jonathan St., for 22 years, said he was reading the Bible when a man walked in demanding money at about 11:30 a.m. The man, who was wearing a hood, raised a knife and pointed it toward Leonard, 69, who was alone in the shop at the time. "I had the Bible in my hands (when the man came in)

By TERI JOHNSON / Staff Writer photo: JOE CROCETTA / staff photographer The repertoire of Hagerstown chapter of Mason-Dixon Chorus includes many old chestnuts, but its membership is vibrant and growing. The barbershop choral group includes men from their teens to their 80s. Each Monday night, they gather at Haven Lutheran Church in Hagerstown to sing songs from the heart. The 70-member organization is like a family, says Don Carson, the group's public relations manager.

scottb@herald-mail.com While Martin "Marty" Bumbaugh was cutting hair Saturday at his Maugansville barbershop, as he has done since 1960, across the street people attending Maugansville Pride Day were buying wooden miniature replicas of the front of his business. The replicas of Marty's Barber Shop at 1372 Maugansville Road are the 10th in an annual series, with sales benefiting the Maugansville Historic Society. The Historic Society hopes to use the money to buy - or have donated - a house where it can display historic artifacts, Daisy Fitz, a society board member, said.

Smooth harmonies from four barbershop choruses filled the sanctuary at Emmanuel United Methodist Church on Sunday as the church continued its tradition of providing a free Christmas concert. The groups performed for more than an hour at the church at 802 Summit Ave., and near the end of the 3 p.m. show, the audience of about 100 people was invited to join in singing favorite holiday tunes. Bill Divelbiss, member of the Mason-Dixon Chorus, one of the groups that performed, said the concert has been held for about six years.

After a long career as a barber, Carol Harvey is happy to see her business continue in the hands of her daughter. Harvey, who comes from a long line of barbers (see the old pictures in the shop of her uncles and grandfather), started her career in 1973, when she attended the Bladensburg (Md.) Barber School. She settled in Williamsport, where she started her own barbershop, Williamsport Barber Shop, at 28 N. Conococheague St. Harvey said she really enjoys her customers, who have become great friends and acquaintances through the business and town.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- Alex Ivan Litoshik describes downtown as "the face" of a community. It is perhaps appropriate, then, that Litoshik is providing services to beautify the faces of the men living and working in the community. Litoshik recently opened a barber shop at 110 W. Main St., providing cuts, shaves, facials, facial massages and steam towel treatments. He's trying to hearken back to an era when barbershops were a town staple, where men gathered for socializing and exceptional service.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Freedom Valley Chorus, a female a capella women's barbershop singing group, is hosting "Celebrate Christmas in June" guest nights. Women of all ages who enjoy singing are invited to attend any or all of the Monday rehearsals in June. Rehearsals start Monday, June 7, and are from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the choir room of St. Paul United Methodist Church, 750 Norland Ave. For more information, contact Diana at 717-709-0179 or jdumbrell@comcast.net .

HAGERSTOWN -- Some of their customers come in for the blueberry lollipops, others for the conversation and a friendly ribbing. The main reason most people walk through the door of Razor's Edge Barber Shop, though, is for a trim by a barber they consider a friend. This spring marks 40 years since owner Sam Rock opened his doors near Longmeadow Shopping Center in 1969. He even had the same landlord all those years, until recently. "We have been able to maintain this particular location because of fair rent and being able to work together with the landlord whatever the situation," Rock said of his former landlord, Turner Management Co. Rock, 71, of State Line, Pa., said he worked in the area years ago, moved to Los Angeles, then came back and saw a business opportunity.

HAGERSTOWN -- Staring at the wrong end of an 8-inch blade, Leonard W. Cooper fought off an intruder Wednesday by picking him up and throwing him through a glass door. Cooper, who has worked at Just Us Hair Styles, a barbershop at 206 N. Jonathan St., for 22 years, said he was reading the Bible when a man walked in demanding money at about 11:30 a.m. The man, who was wearing a hood, raised a knife and pointed it toward Leonard, 69, who was alone in the shop at the time. "I had the Bible in my hands (when the man came in)

Ask most teens about "barbershop" and they'd probably tell you it's a place to get your hair cut. But for Travis Ware, it's a style of four-part harmoney that has a ton of musical possibilities. Ware, a 17-year-old senior at Williamsport High School, said barbershop is one of his favorties musical styles because "it's amazing the sound that you can produce. " But it's not the only kind of music he said he likes. As a member of Williamsport's "Sophisticats" for four years, he's learned show tunes and a whole lot more.

HAGERSTOWN - Eight-year-old Blake Hepner said he couldn't explain why he enjoyed a performance by The Mason Dixon Barbershop Chorus before a packed house Saturday night inside the Kepler Theatre at Hagerstown Community College. "It was just cool," he said. Blake attended the concert with his mother, Kathy, who said she decided to get tickets after discovering earlier in the day that the chorus would sing. "I just haven't heard a barbershop (chorus) in a long time," Kathy said.

Vote on Tuesday Please remember to vote on Tuesday. Barbershop chorus The Mason Dixon Barbershop Chorus will present its annual fundraising show Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. at Kepler Theater at Hagerstown Community College. This year's show titled "Grandpa's Attic" will star local actor Dick Hershey as Grandpa and Holden Hershey as his grandson. It will also feature the Freedom Valley Sweet Adeline Chorus from Chambersburg, Pa., and local barbershop quartets Carousel, Crowning Touch and Uncalled-4.